blocking the kick: toes up or down?

[Jon Masaya]

I've always been taught to flex my foot up for the block, bringing the muscles out for a softer impact on the shin. Recently, however, I've noticed in videos and elsewhere, fighters (muay thai and otherwise) keeping their toes pointed down towards the ground for the block. Seems to me that it's a matter of preference, and depends on how agressive of a check you want to make on them. What do you guys think?

[Khun Kao]

I've been taught both. After listening to both arguments, I am sure that there is no real correct answer and that it is a matter of personal preference.

For me, toes up.

[garam masala]

im new to MT and i;ve been taught toes down.and try to keep ur calf touching ur hamstring as much as possible.

[Rich_aka_Wig]

I was told pointing your toes down pulls the muscle over the shin.

Regardless, it's natural for me to point my toes down when blocking with the shin.

[Python]

Point toes down when executing the knee strike.

bring toes point upwards toward the knee when blocking the roundkick. This serves two purposes: 1) yes, the muscle somewhat flexes and curves over the bone, but only on the upper half of the shin, lower is still totally exposed. 2) when the toes are pointed down, it exposes the top of the foot with the small bones..a good fighter will catch on to this and eventually guide his kick lower so his shin impacts across your foot, leaving your foot seriously bruised if not broken.


On another note, I have seen the roundkick executed with toes pointed and curled back. Which do you all prefer on this one? And do you impact your target with your leg bent or totally straightened out? Curious.

[Boxiados]

I've always been taught to flex my foot up for the block, bringing the muscles out for a softer impact on the shin. Recently, however, I've noticed in videos and elsewhere, fighters (muay thai and otherwise) keeping their toes pointed down towards the ground for the block. Seems to me that it's a matter of preference, and depends on how agressive of a check you want to make on them. What do you guys think?

Toes totally down, when you will take the blow on the toes you will never think twice to point them down

I broke my toe that way and ever since I block toes pointed down!

[Boxiados]

Toes totally down, when you will take the blow on the toes you will never think twice to point them down

I broke my toe that way and ever since I block toes pointed down!

Hey Python, remember we had different opinions in the past! Here again we have had different experiences when it comes to some aspects, I beleive each of us learns also from own experience, In my case I received a low kick streight on my toe braking it, I could not train for months, since then I always point the toes down!

Cheers bud

[okimura]

I was taught to point my toes up. As a few other people have pointed out, it flexes the muscle over your shin. Also, with your toes pointed up, your opponents kick is less likely to penetrate your block. If your toes are down and the kick is low, it may hit the top of your foot, knocking it back. The kick may be deflected downward and will keep going and make contact with your inner thigh on your base leg. That hurts.

[Boxiados]

I was taught to point my toes up. As a few other people have pointed out, it flexes the muscle over your shin. Also, with your toes pointed up, your opponents kick is less likely to penetrate your block. If your toes are down and the kick is low, it may hit the top of your foot, knocking it back. The kick may be deflected downward and will keep going and make contact with your inner thigh on your base leg. That hurts.

You just need to look at the majority of top fighters and see that they point their feet down!!

We are talking about fights here... anything you do is intended to hurt, no need to be a rocket scientist to know that!!

[Damian Mavis]

Broken toes? Pointing your toes down is a good way to get you ANKLE broken.... I've been sparring and training with pro thai fighters for 2 years and I've never seen them shield toes down, honestly though maybe I didnt look for it that much because I've always taken it for granted that everyone shields toes up. I'll pay closer attention to make sure I'm correct.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[Boxiados]

Broken toes? Pointing your toes down is a good way to get you ANKLE broken.... I've been sparring and training with pro thai fighters for 2 years and I've never seen them shield toes down, honestly though maybe I didnt look for it that much because I've always taken it for granted that everyone shields toes up. I'll pay closer attention to make sure I'm correct.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

I trained with top fighters for 17 years... Kaman, Dekkers, Mannart...

[Damian Mavis]

White guys? All European? Maybe thats the style for Europe? If not Europe then foreign fighters in general? I've got almost zero experience with foreign top fighters, just the Thai ones.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[Boxiados]

White guys? All European? Maybe thats the style for Europe? If not Europe then foreign fighters in general? I've got almost zero experience with foreign top fighters, just the Thai ones.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

You must give it to the white guys... they rocked in Thailand defeating the top Thai guys in their home, some big credits must go to people like Dekkers or Kaman!! I learned from the best!

[Damian Mavis]

Oh don't get me wrong, I wasn't being condescending when I said white guys. Nothing makes me happier than seeing falangs win in the ring. In fact nothing makes me happier than any time a falang gets one over on a Thai in any situation..... but maybe I'm just jaded from living here heh. I think Kaman and Dekers were great!

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[Tom Yum]

If you really want to hurt the leg, you better go with a low forearm block. If done properly it will damage the leg so much that he cannot stand up.

Blocking shin on shin is playing THEIR game. Better to take the leg out with a low forearm block imo.

Low forearm block has a few weaknesses. 9 out of 10 muaythai kickboxers will come over the top with a straight as you drop that hand to block. I land it on beginners or TMA guys alot....

Using a forearm block against a shin kick is force against force and since the leg is alot stronger than the arm and the kick has hips and weight behind it, its probably not the best response.

Some of the best TMA fighters respond to the thai kick by checking it with a kick, which is a safer response while I've seen quicker type soft arts ride it back and make the kick miss alltogether.